VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): Acting Youth and Sports Affairs Minister (Menpora) Muhadjir Effendy urged all parties to not be sad and disappointed for too long following FIFA's decision to remove Indonesia as host of the upcoming U-20 World Cup.

Effendy made the statement during a press release with Presidential Staff Head Moeldoko at the Gedung Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Thursday.

"I, along with Mister Moeldoko, encourage anyone with empathy for this problem, including football fans like myself, not to be dragged down by sorrow and disappointment for too long," Effendy stated in Jakarta, Thursday.

He appealed to all parties to continue working on programs aimed at improving our football performance in the future instead of being stuck in expressing regret over the decision.

Furthermore, he appealed to all parties, regardless of their stances on the Israel team's participation, to prepare for a more promising and prospective future for national football.

Effendy, who is concurrently coordinating minister for human development and cultural affairs, admitted that the decision of FIFA has hurt us all. However, he believed that it was the best decision.

"We are greatly disappointed by the decision, that is for sure. I believe that FIFA was well aware of the impact of its decision. However, the decision cannot be contested, and FIFA must have chosen the best decision for us," he affirmed.

"We will soon face the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games. Since the time is near, and it will be held in Cambodia, we need to prepare all teams, including the national football team as well as possible. We need to be much better prepared to face various competitions in the SEA Games," he said. (Antaranews)